Electrical connector system connectable in a straight or right angle configuration

Abstract

An electrical connector system having a male and female connector. The male connector includes a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding a male terminal having an opening generally perpendicular to the male terminal's longitudinal axis. The female connector includes a female terminal having two openings, one generally parallel with the female terminal's longitudinal axis and another generally perpendicular to that axis. The male and female terminals mate in a parallel configuration having the male terminal axis generally parallel to the female terminal axis or in a perpendicular configuration having the male terminal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal axis. A connector body holds the female terminal. The connector body defines a locking means that releasably secures the connector body to the shroud in both the parallel and perpendicular mating configurations. The locking means may include a triangular shaped lock tab that engages a similarly shaped lock aperture.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector system comprising:
 a male connector that includes
 a male terminal, and 
 a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal, wherein the shroud defines an opening generally perpendicular to a male terminal longitudinal axis; and 
 
 a female connector that includes
 a female terminal defining a first terminal opening generally parallel with a female terminal longitudinal axis and a second terminal opening generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a parallel mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally parallel to the female terminal longitudinal axis and wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a perpendicular mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, and 
 a connector body holding the female terminal, wherein the connector body defines a locking means configured to releasably secure the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector system of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud defines a lock aperture and wherein the locking means includes a resilient lock tab configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector system, of  claim 2 , wherein the lock tab defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector system of  claim 3 , wherein the lock tab and the lock aperture are characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector system of  claim 2 , wherein the connector body includes a resilient cantilever beam defining the lock tab. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector system of  claim 5 , wherein the connector body further comprises a connector position assurance device including an arm configured to slide behind the cantilever beam, thereby inhibiting inward flexing of said cantilever beam. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector system of  claim 5 , wherein the lock tab is proximate a free end of the cantilever beam. 
     
     
       8. A female connector configured to interconnect with a mating male connector having a male terminal defining a male terminal longitudinal axis and a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal and defining a lock aperture, the female connector comprising:
 a female terminal defining a first terminal opening generally parallel with a female terminal longitudinal axis and a second terminal opening generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis, wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a parallel mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally parallel to the female terminal longitudinal axis and wherein the female terminal is configured to mate with the male terminal in a perpendicular mating configuration having the male terminal longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal longitudinal axis; and 
 a connector body holding the female terminal, wherein the connector body defines a locking means configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration. 
 
     
     
       9. The female connector of  claim 8 , wherein the locking means includes a resilient lock tab configured to engage the lock aperture, thereby securing the connector body to the shroud in the parallel mating configuration and in the perpendicular mating configuration. 
     
     
       10. The female connector of  claim 9 , wherein the lock tab defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry. 
     
     
       11. The female connector of  claim 10 , wherein the lock tab is characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape. 
     
     
       12. The female connector of  claim 9 , wherein the connector body includes a resilient cantilever beam defining the lock tab. 
     
     
       13. The female connector of  claim 12 , wherein the connector body further comprises a connector position assurance device including an arm configured to slide behind the cantilever beam, thereby inhibiting inward flexing of said cantilever beam. 
     
     
       14. The female connector of  claim 12 , wherein the lock tab is proximate a free end of the cantilever beam. 
     
     
       15. A male connector configured to interconnect with a mating female connector having a lock tab configured to releasably secure the mating female connector to the male connector in a parallel mating configuration and in a perpendicular mating configuration, said male connector comprising:
 a male terminal; and 
 a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding the male terminal, wherein the shroud defines an opening generally perpendicular to a male terminal longitudinal axis configured to receive the lock tab; wherein the lock aperture defines a shape having 90 degrees of rotational symmetry. 
 
     
     
       16. The male connector of  claim 15 , wherein the lock aperture is characterized as having a generally isosceles right triangle shape.